Yesterday we decided to include the whole family. We decided to take a step of faith and let the older boys accompany us to Ash Wednesday service and see how they would recieve it. We also decided to invite them to fast from something for Lent. Of course the initial responses were quite, well...amusing.
Logan-"Meat, no, any food but vegetables...yeah and only water to drink"
Eli-"Broccoli...and save all my vegetables for 5 days and give it to people who don't have any"
Brennan-"School..."
Millie-"Where's my Paci?"
So, as good discerning parents we told them to pray about it during service and listen to what the Lord was telling them to give up. Remember it's 40 days, and it's a sacrifice.
So after they did a great job during service, and complained a little about how strong the wine was and compared ashes on their foreheads, we told them to let us know when we tucked them into bed what they heard the Lord ask them to give up.
Logan...Sweets. After David explained that's all candy and Ice Cream, he teared up a little and said okay, he'd do his best.
Brennan...DS. He told us that he knew it would be hard, but he'd try.
Eli...still Broccoli (he doesn't eat Broccoli by the way, so as I told Rhodes, you can only give up something you'd been doing prior) We'll search that a little more today.
I am so proud. David said as we went to bed last night "we've done a good job with them". I'm not saying this to brag, but every now and then in the midst of the chaos and feeling failures and that our kids are going to end up in Juvey, God gives us moments of the big picture. Moments their hearts shine through and their character shows. As parents we need that, we need to give our kids more opportunites to show that.
Isaiah 58:1-12 was one of the readings last night and the crux of Father Rob's message. It was wonderful and freeing and enlightening. Read it, if you are celebrating Lent or fasting at any point, it's so good.
We are also following Mars Hill's Lenten calendar as a family, and it is so good too. The theme of it is Fasting-from and Living-to...the two are meant to go together...so good.
So as a proud mother and gracious child, I encourage you today, to live well.
Peace be with you.
Oh Court... Tear/Wipe/Tear/Wipe.
ReplyDeleteIn our crazy lives and ups and downs and kids.. (which by the way I'm still amazed by Sticky Fingers and ALL of them) I love your words about them and their little simple minds and huge hearts. So good.
Kim
Parker said he was giving up his bed for 40 days when coming home from class Tuesday night. When I asked him why he simply said "I don't know - that's what DJ said he is giving up"... I'm guessing he zoned right out when they went over the 'why' part of it.
ReplyDeleteBurg